TenCate debuts new turf without performance infill requirement

(Photo: TenCate)

TenCate, a manufacturer, distributor and installer of synthetic turf for sports and outdoor living applications, launched what it calls the world’s first turf that requires no performance infill, can be recycled and is biomechanically engineered to replicate the feel and playability of grass sports fields.

Named Pivot Performance Turf, it was tested by college and professional athletes wearing biosensors to record movement and surface interactions. The biometric feedback found that Pivot closely mirrors the qualities of natural grass, delivering the feedback, support, give and grip that athletes need to maximize their performance, according to the company.

“Pivot is the world’s first synthetic turf that plays like grass, requires no performance infill and is able to be recycled, an unbeatable combination that is truly a game changer,” said Joe Fields, president and CEO of TenCate Americas. “It’s a transformative breakthrough that outperforms and outlasts other turfs, benefiting players and the planet for years to come.”

Pivot was developed by TenCate’s Center for Turf Innovation (CTI) after years of research. Using advanced technology and continuous testing, TenCate says it unlocked the ideal combination of traditional, durable sports fibers and new fibers that look and feel more like natural grass.

“Everyone seems to really like it — the playability of it, the cushioning of it,” said Eric George, assistant vice president and deputy athletic director for Rice University. “I think one of the really cool aspects is that you don’t have the rubber pellets. So our guys aren’t getting the turf burns like what they used to get, which actually comes from the pellets more so than the turf itself.”

According to TenCate, Pivot is not just groundbreaking for athletes, it’s a leap forward for the environment as well. The new turf:

• Requires no performance infill, a first for turf systems. That means less materials and energy are needed to transport and install Pivot, resulting in lower carbon emissions.
• Eliminates nearly 100 percent of plastic shedding because there’s no conventional infill, which causes abrasion and shedding of the turf.
• Lasts longer than other turf systems and can be recycled at the end of its lifespan.
• Has no detectable PFAS, PAHs or lead. It is compliant with Proposition 65 requirements in California and meets the testing criteria of the FIFA, NFL and NCAA.
• Does not need to be watered, mowed or cared for like grass, conserving water, cutting emissions from lawnmowers and eliminating the use of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers.

“Pivot opens an exciting new era of sports fields that are sustainable, durable, cost-effective and playable like no others,” said Colin Young, Ph.D., global director of research and development at TenCate.

TenCate says that Pivot is manufactured to outperform all other types of artificial grass. It features three times more total fiber than competitive turf systems and 16 times as many individual fibers.

Pivot is also built to outlast all other turf systems. It features flexible yarns to dissipate impact load and resist wear even where play is concentrated. Pivot has a 50 percent longer lifespan than other synthetic turf and carries a 12-year warranty, according to the company.

“We’ve been using this for about 14 months now, and all of our outdoor sports teams are really appreciating the way it holds up under their feet,” said Tucker Barnard, athletic director and head football coach for Shiloh Christian School in Springdale, Ark.

In warmer climates, using GeoCool — a cooling additive — with Pivot can help dissipate heat and reduce surface temperatures. GeoCool is made from a renewable inorganic mineral that is 100 percent recyclable and non-toxic.

Pivot is manufactured with 40 percent traditional sports yarns and 60 percent newly developed yarns. The turf comes in three different face weights and more than 10 colors to accommodate a variety of sports applications.

“Every now and then, something comes along that revolutionizes a technology, and for synthetic turf, that moment is now,” Young said. “Pivot looks, feels and plays like grass from the season opener to the championship final — game after game, season after season, year after year.”